Andrew Webster

[Penrose Warrior]

Webster has done an amazing job and this must be one of the best periods in our history. Made 2 out of last 3 finals and 2026 is looking like the best season in a long time.

Long way to go and season can go many ways yet. I am posting this before the Newcastle game because it will become easy to predict later.

The Warriors I saw in the 1st 2 games were better than 2023 because in 2023 we played really well but couldn’t beat any other top 4 teams.

I am not sure how he has done it but the team is looking top 2 this season. Penrith only team that is looking better.

Early days but Melbourne will be a top 4 side again.

The side I'm particularly interested to see how we shape up to is the Dogs, but we don't play them until round 21. They are that D-orientated team, like Penrith and Melbourne (although those sides attack better) that we have struggled to unlock during Webby's tenure.

Obviously Melbourne in Melbourne will be a huge litmus test in a couple of weeks. As every game is, but that particularly will tell us where we are at because beating top 4 teams hasn't been Webby's strong suit. It was Ivan's.

 

[Matua]

Webster has done an amazing job and this must be one of the best periods in our history. Made 2 out of last 3 finals and 2026 is looking like the best season in a long time.

Long way to go and season can go many ways yet. I am posting this before the Newcastle game because it will become easy to predict later.

The Warriors I saw in the 1st 2 games were better than 2023 because in 2023 we played really well but couldn’t beat any other top 4 teams.

I am not sure how he has done it but the team is looking top 2 this season. Penrith only team that is looking better.

Sheesh, this highlights just how poor a team we are.

Realistically we had an bloody good overachieving year in 2023. We fell off the pace spectacularly in 2024 but credit to Webby in 2025 for adjusting the game plan so that we had a good year (due in no small part to two pieces of individual brilliance by Leka).

But, unlike during the Anderson years, or even under Cleary, at no point during this tenure have I thought we have been a realistic chance to win the whole shebang.

We're two weeks into the NRL season and the hype train is already well off the charts. Luckily I'm naturally pessimistic when it comes to the Warriors so if we get derailed it will be less of a shock to me.

 

[TheDMC]

Sheesh, this highlights just how poor a team we are.

Realistically we had an bloody good overachieving year in 2023. We fell off the pace spectacularly in 2024 but credit to Webby in 2025 for adjusting the game plan so that we had a good year (due in no small part to two pieces of individual brilliance by Leka).

But, unlike during the Anderson years, or even under Cleary, at no point during this tenure have I thought we have been a realistic chance to win the whole shebang.

We're two weeks into the NRL season and the hype train is already well off the charts. Luckily I'm naturally pessimistic when it comes to the Warriors so if we get derailed it will be less of a shock to me.

Under Cleary's longish tenure we never looked like winning a premiership. We just had a very good 2011 finals run. Outside of that we look solid most of time, but no threat to win anything.

 

[nswarrior]

Under Cleary's longish tenure we never looked like winning a premiership. We just had a very good 2011 finals run. Outside of that we look solid most of time, but no threat to win anything.

I think Cleary era sounds better because we associate it with Cleary and what he did with Panthers

I know it’s early days and we will see how it goes but harder to call it early rather then after the fact.

I just hope that I haven’t jinxed is against Newcastle this weekend

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Under Cleary's longish tenure we never looked like winning a premiership. We just had a very good 2011 finals run. Outside of that we look solid most of time, but no threat to win anything.

Truth.

The only years we've looked like serious contenders IMO have been 2002 and 2003, if wed gone all the way in 2011 it wouldve been a Tigers 2005 type fairytale run. Currently Webby is matching Cleary at the same stage of his career, And provided he keeps on that track we should learn our lesson and not make the same mistake we made in letting go of Ivan. I think the realistic target for this year is making the second week of finals and not looking like we're making up the numbers- and I think we're on track for that. Our ability to win well so far without key personnel is very encouraging, hopefully it means we've addressed the glaring weakness of our 2025 campaign which was not being able to compensate for the loss of Metcalf and Barnett (as well as our mediocre attack, which also seems to have been improved).

Next test for Webby is keeping the team motivated for an away banana skin game in Newy. They're all set up for an ambush, the boys need to shut out the media and the crowd and stick to the (dare I say it) process.

 

[ozenzud]

The other thing, is that the Warriors Squad is pretty young. Halves are mid twenties, backrowers and up and coming props are in school pants. A couple/few of outside backs (CNK, DWZ and RTS) are old. But otherwise, If they keep the solid core, the coaching development team could actually come up with a solid, solid experienced team.

 

[Matua]

Under Cleary's longish tenure we never looked like winning a premiership. We just had a very good 2011 finals run. Outside of that we look solid most of time, but no threat to win anything.

Yeah, I guess that's each individuals perception, I thought we could win in that finals run, even last year when we were top 4 90% of the season I never once thought we'd win.

 

[Big Marn]

You always have to have hope even if your head says no.
Leicester City won the EPL in 2016 at odds of 5000-1 and you would have to think their task was disproportionately harder to ours. eg budget wise. 57M vs 411M for Manchester City.
I would be overjoyed if we caused a massive upset against the odds. It does happen.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yeah, I guess that's each individuals perception, I thought we could win in that finals run, even last year when we were top 4 90% of the season I never once thought we'd win.

Yeah I don't agree with that, I felt we could have won in 2008 but Manly went to this ridiculous other level that resulted in 40-0.

In 2011 we were in the contest in the GF too. Ivan teams made a habit of winning big games against top 4 teams

Last year, as with 2023, we got to top 4 without beating top 4 teams. We just regularly beat sides below us. Now, we've just brushed off two teams with top 4 designs, including last year's minor premier. Melbourne in Melbourne next week will be a litmus test but already you can see we have this different level to us

 

[nswarrior]

How well are Boyd, Ford, Taupiki, Laban, Helasima playing. So much improvement since last year. Then we have Hanson come in and fill in 1st grade with a solid game.
Great work by Webster!!

 

[nswarrior]

I am so pumped that we have finally beaten the Storm after 10 years. Thanks Webby! Although I have been shocked when Vaimauga wasn’t brought off the bench against Sharks